Possibly the stupidest action a business can do, primarily those in proximity to competition, is to set certain ‘policies’ without investigation.
Taking a supermarket, (the easiest example) if A opens at 8:00 and B opens at 8:30 then the early shoppers will have to go to B.
Supermarket A might as well be 100 miles away between 8:00 and 8:30 because they have lost all that custom.
Another error is to have a bunch of managers/Assistant Managers/ Supervisors/Assistant Supervisors, etc. at some desk somewhere, while the clerks are overwhelmed and the cash registers are idle.
Supermarket A may have 10 cash registers but only 5 cashiers. The lines are growing longer, and the MAMSAS are pushing papers, answering phones.
If Supermarket B is across the street, customers will walk out.
As many of the MAMSAS at Supermarket A started as cashiers, why doen’t they jump on the empty cash registers until they are relieved or the crowd dwindles?
No doubt; Policy.